Bulls take final nine one game at a time

Coach Tom Thibodeau complained about the Bulls’ practice habits after Monday’s 97-85 loss to Philadelphia, which snapped a 14-game home winning streak.

So naturally the Bulls held a full workout Tuesday at the Berto Center before heading to Minnesota.

With nine games remaining, the Bulls need only to take care of business to wrap up the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.

“We have to concentrate on each opponent,” Thibodeau said. “I think sometimes when you start looking ahead, you can get in trouble. You look at the finish line and slow down, that’s no good. You have to sprint to the finish line.”

Here’s the basic complaint from Monday’s loss in a nutshell: In the first quarter the Sixers shot 54 percent and scored 27 points. In the third quarter they shot 35 percent and scored 16 points.

“The focus we brought in the third quarter, we have to have that same kind of intensity in the first quarter,” Carlos Boozer said.

“If we can do it in the third, why can’t we do it in the first? That’s our theory on it. We’ll have more focus, more concentration, more intensity.”

Three too few:

Last week the Bulls made opponents pay for double-teaming Derrick Rose by knocking down a flurry of 3-point baskets.

Philadelphia focused on stopping Rose as much as any team Monday, but the Bulls hit just 1 of 9 shots from long range. Kyle Korver has gone two straight games without a 3-pointer for just the second time this season.

“There was a stretch where I thought we were taking too many (3-pointers),” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I thought we had some that we passed on. … I think we have to strike a balance between 3s, drives and re-posts, so we’re not settling (for long shots).”

Boozer meets Prince:

Carlos Boozer talked about his experience renting a Hollywood Hills home to legendary musician Prince in 2006. At one point Boozer filed a suit against Prince for making unauthorized changes to the home.

Among the complaints were painting purple stripes on the outside of the home, along with the “Prince” symbol and the numbers 3121, which were an album title.

Also mentioned were installing purple monogrammed carpeting in the master bedroom and adding plumbing in a bedroom for water transfer to beauty-salon chairs.

The suit was soon dropped. Boozer sold the house and said he’s on good terms with Prince these days.

No good loss:

Even with Monday’s loss, the Bulls are 19-4 since Feb. 9. Coach Tom Thibodeau was asked if an occasional defeat can help the players regain their focus.

“We had slippage when we won the last two (against Milwaukee and Memphis),” he said. “I think you want to make your corrections even when you win, and we didn’t do that.

“Unfortunately, we lost. Maybe it does get our attention more, but I think the good teams are able to make those corrections after they win, and that’s what we strive toward.”